on sullivan ' s island only half complete , admiral parker expressed confidence that his warships would easily breach its walls . optimistic ##ally believing he would not even need clinton ' s land forces , he wrote to clinton that after the fort ' s guns were knocked out , he would " land seamen and marines ( which i have practiced for the purpose ) under the guns " and that they could " keep possession till you send as many troops as you think proper " . the british fleet was composed of nine man @ - @ of @ - @ war ships : the flagship 50 @ - @ gun bristol , as well as the 50 @ - @ gun experiment and
on sullivan's island only half complete, admiral parker expressed confidence that his warships would easily breach its walls. optimistically believing he would not even need clinton's land forces, he wrote to clinton that after the fort's guns were knocked out, he would " land seamen and marines ( which i have practiced for the purpose ) under the guns " and that they could " keep possession till you send as many troops as you think proper ". the british fleet was composed of nine man @ - @ of @ - @ war ships : the flagship 50 @ - @ gun bristol, as well as the 50 @ - @ gun experiment and